Cellular communications system providing mobile cellular device battery saving features while accommodating user access requests and related methods

RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 13/209,676 filed Aug. 15, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,160,584 issued Apr. 17, 2012, which, in turn, is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/787,543 filed Feb. 26, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,023,943 issued Sep. 20, 2011, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0002The present invention relates to the field of communications systems, and, more particularly, to cellular communications systems and related methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0003Cellular communications systems continue to grow in popularity and have become an integral part of both personal and business communications. Cellular phones allow users to place and receive voice calls most anywhere they travel. Moreover, as cellular telephone technology has increased, so too has the functionality of cellular devices. For example, many cellular devices now incorporate personal digital assistant (PDA) features such as calendars, address books, task lists, etc. Moreover, such multi-function devices may also allow users to wirelessly access electronic mail (email) messages and the Internet via a cellular network.

0004Many such devices operate in an always-on, always-connected mode, in that they are continuously trying to maintain service from the wireless network. However, this can lead to problems in that if a cellular base station is administratively closed or otherwise unable to establish a wireless communications link with such a device, then the device may quickly run its battery down trying to continually establish the link. This may similarly occur if the cellular device cannot establish a link because it is out of range of the base station, for example. In addition to the battery drain, in some circumstances this may result in wasted network resources as well.

0005Various approaches have been used in the prior art to address this problem. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,146 is directed to a method for conserving battery power in a mobile station searching to select a serving cell. The mobile station varies the interval between scans for the beacon signals of cells in a communications system to save battery power when the mobile station is searching to select a serving cell. The interval between scans is increased in response to the time elapsed since the start of the search. Initially, the scans are conducted with a small interval therebetween in the hope of quickly acquiring a serving cell. If a serving cell is not selected during this initial period of time, then the interval between scans is calculated to increase in response to the increase in elapsed time since the start of the search. If a serving cell is not selected during this period of calculated intervals, then the interval is set to a maximum limit to save battery power. The interval between scans may also be changed based upon the quantity and signal strength of beacon signals provided by neighboring serving cells (i.e., base stations).

0006Despite the presence of such prior art systems, additional flexibility may be desired in some applications for varying scan rates for accessing a cellular base station to save battery power and reduce waste of network resources.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0007In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cellular communications system providing enhanced mobile cellular communications device battery saving features and related methods.

0008This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a cellular communications system which may include at least one base station and at least one mobile cellular communications device. More particularly, the at least one mobile cellular communications device may include a controller, at least one user input device connected to the controller, and a wireless transceiver cooperating with the controller for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station. If the wireless communications link cannot be established, then the controller continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Moreover, if a user provides a request to access the at least one base station via the at least one user input device, then the controller may continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link based upon a second attempt rate greater than the first attempt rate.

0009Accordingly, the mobile cellular communications device advantageously attempts to establish the wireless communications link more often when a user requires access to the base station. By way of example, the access request may be a request to place a telephone call, as well as request to send an electronic mail (email) message (i.e., placing an email message in an outbound queue). Otherwise, if the user does not need to initiate wireless communications, the controller uses the slower, first access rate to reduce battery drain. The at least one user input device may be a keypad, for example.

0010In accordance with another advantageous aspect of the invention, the controller may also successively decrease at least one of the first and second attempt rates after each unsuccessful attempt to establish the wireless communications link. Such a step down in the attempt rate may provide further battery savings for the mobile cellular communications device. The cellular communications system may further include a central switching station for interfacing the at least one base station with a wired communications network, such as a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) or the Internet, for example. Further, the wireless communications link may be for data service or voice service.

0011A method aspect of the invention is for using a mobile cellular communications device including at least one user input device, such as the one described briefly above. The method may include attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station, and if the wireless communications link cannot be established, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Furthermore, if a user provides a request to access the at least one base station via the at least one user input device, continuing attempts to establish the wireless communications link may be made based upon a second attempt rate greater than the first attempt rate.

0012A mobile cellular communications device, such as the one described briefly above, as well as a related computer-readable medium, are also provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic block diagram illustrating a cellular communications system in accordance with the present invention.

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a schematic block diagram illustrating a mobile cellular communications device of the system of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic block diagram illustrating an alternate embodiment of the mobile cellular communications device of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic block diagram illustrating another alternate embodiment of the mobile cellular communications device of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5-7</figref> are block diagrams illustrating cellular communications method aspects of the present invention.

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a schematic block diagram illustrating further aspects of a mobile cellular communications device suitable for use with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0019The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime and multiple prime notation are used to indicate similar elements in alternate embodiments.

0020Referring initially to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1</figref>, <b>2</b>, and <b>5</b>, a first embodiment of a cellular communications system <b>20</b> in accordance with the present invention is now described. The cellular communications system <b>20</b> illustratively includes a base station <b>21</b> (illustratively represented as a cell tower) for communicating with a mobile cellular communications devices <b>22</b>. In the illustrated example, the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> is a Blackberry device, which allows a user to not only place and receive voice calls, but also to access other services such as electronic mail (email) and Internet browsing via the base station <b>21</b>.

0021In this regard, the system <b>20</b> further includes a central switching station <b>23</b> which interfaces the base station <b>21</b> (and, thus, the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b>), with a “wired” network such as a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) and/or the Internet, for example. That is, the central switching station <b>23</b> includes the appropriate switching and control circuitry for routing voice calls to and from the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b>, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. It may further include an email/Web server (not shown) for providing access to email or Web content on the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> via the base station <b>21</b>, as will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

0022It should be noted that while only a single mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> and a single base station <b>21</b> are shown for clarity of illustration, a typical cellular communications system will include numerous base stations which allow numerous cellular communications devices to obtain service from the network as they move from one location to another, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Moreover, the various functions performed by the central switching station <b>23</b> may in fact be distributed among more than one station or location, as will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art. In addition, numerous other types of cellular devices may be used in accordance with the present invention as well, and such devices need not have access to all of the above-noted services (i.e., voice, email, and Internet browsing) in all embodiments.

0023The mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> illustratively includes a wireless transceiver <b>24</b> and associated antenna <b>25</b>, and a controller <b>26</b> connected to the wireless transceiver. The controller <b>26</b> cooperates with the wireless transceiver <b>24</b> to communicate with the base station <b>21</b>, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. By way of example, the controller <b>26</b> may be implemented using a microprocessor and/or other suitable control circuitry with associated memory, as will be discussed further in the example provided below with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>.

0024The mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> further illustratively includes a user input device <b>27</b> connected to the controller <b>26</b>. In the case of the illustrated Blackberry device, the user input device <b>27</b> includes a keypad <b>28</b> and a trackwheel <b>29</b>, though both need not necessarily be used for every user initiated operation, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Of course, other user input devices <b>27</b> may be used as well, such as touch screens, etc., as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

0025Among other functions, the user input device <b>27</b> allows a user to place voice calls, type emails and queue them up for transmission to the base station <b>21</b>, and/or request access to a Web page, for example, depending upon a given implementation. The mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> also illustratively includes a display <b>30</b> which cooperates with the controller <b>26</b> to display telephone numbers, email text, Web page content, etc., as will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

0026The base station <b>21</b> may communicate with the central switching station <b>23</b> via dedicated communications links, such a fiber optic links, free space optical (FSO) links, etc. The base station <b>21</b> has one or more antennas <b>31</b> and a transceiver (not shown) associated therewith for use in communication with the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b>, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Various cellular formats and/or protocols may be used in accordance with the present invention, as will be discussed further below.

0027In particular, the present invention may be particularly advantageous for mobile cellular communications devices <b>22</b> that operate in accordance with different cellular formats, as they may perform multiple scan operations to determine what formats are offered in their present vicinity. That is, this may otherwise lead to significant battery drain and/or wasted network resources in some instances, which may be reduced in accordance with the present invention, as will be discussed further below.

0028More particularly, beginning at Block <b>50</b>, when the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> is first turned on or enters a new cell area, for example, the device performs a scan to detect a beacon signal transmitted by the base station <b>21</b> so that it may establish a wireless communications link (i.e., obtain service) from the base station (Block <b>51</b>), as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Additionally, the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> will typically be set so that it will not establish a wireless communications link if a QoS level of signals received from the base station <b>21</b> is below a desired threshold. For example, a low QoS level may be indicative of a high bit error rate. Of course, other QoS measurements (e.g., delay, bandwidth, etc.) may also be used, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

0029In some circumstances, the base station <b>21</b> may selectively deny attempts by the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> to establish a wireless communications link therewith. By way of example, this may occur when an available capacity of the base station <b>21</b> falls below a capacity threshold, meaning that the base station is too busy to communicate with new devices. This may also result when the base station <b>21</b> is administratively closed by cellular network personnel, but still acknowledges access requests from cellular devices, which may occur for various reasons that will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

0030As noted above, multi-function devices such as Blackberry devices may not only be enabled for wireless voice service, but they may also be enabled for wireless data service (e.g., email data, Internet data, etc.) as well. Thus, such devices establish different wireless communications links with the base station <b>21</b> depending upon the type of service that is being provided, as the format of the signals being transferred will be different for different types of services, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

0031Accordingly, in some instances, a base station may allow a wireless communications link to be established for voice service, but not for data service, and vice-versa. For example, some cellular service providers allow each others' customers to access their base stations for voice service, so that both providers can provide greater coverage areas. However, the data service provided by one service provider may not be compatible with the other provider's network. In such case, the base station <b>21</b> would allow a wireless communications link to be established with a wireless communications device <b>22</b> associated with a different network for voice service, but not data service. Furthermore, the base station <b>21</b> may allow the establishment of one kind of data services such as email which can tolerate relatively high delay and bit error rate, but may not allow other kinds of data service such as realtime video which requires high bandwidth and low delays.

0032For whatever reason, when the base station <b>21</b> denies a request to establish a wireless communications link therewith, it preferably sends a denial message for the denied attempt. The denial message may take various forms. For example, if the base station <b>21</b> is simply too busy to establish the new link, it may provide an acknowledgement (i.e., an ACK) of the request from the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b>, along with an indication that the link cannot be established at that time, as the denial message. Alternately, if the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> and the base station <b>21</b> do not operate using the same protocol (e.g., the base station does not belong to the user's cellular service provider), then the base station may return an authentication failure signal a NAK) as the denial message.

0033In accordance with the invention, if the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> receives a denial message from the base station <b>21</b> in response to its attempt to establish a wireless communications link, at Block <b>52</b>, the controller <b>26</b> continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt (i.e., scan) rate, at Block <b>53</b>. This wireless communications link may be for voice service or data service, as noted above. Yet, if the wireless communications link cannot be established with the desired QoS level, but no denial message is received (Block <b>54</b>), then the controller <b>26</b> continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a second attempt rate which is different than the first attempt rate, at Block <b>55</b>.

0034That is, the controller <b>26</b> advantageously differentiates the reasons for an unsuccessful attempt to establish a wireless communications link, and it uses different attempt rates based upon the particular reason for the unsuccessful attempt. Thus, for example, where the QoS level is the reason the attempt is unsuccessful, and this is due to the fact that the user is passing from one cell coverage area to another (e.g., in a moving vehicle) or the signal is obstructed, as noted above. In such cases, the QoS level will typically remain below the desired threshold only for a relatively short time.

0035On the other hand, if the base station <b>21</b> denies the request to establish the wireless communications link, the time before the base station will be ready to establish the wireless communications link will in many circumstances be longer. Indeed, if a NAK is received, the mobile cellular communications device will need to move to a different location in which a compatible base station is operating before a wireless communications link may be obtained (excluding the case of emergency communications, in which device types associated with one cellular service provider may be allowed to communicate with base stations of another). The same may also be true of other reasons for denials by the base station <b>22</b> to establish wireless communications links.

0036As such, the first attempt rate may advantageously be less than the second attempt rate, although this need not be the case in all implementations. If the QoS level is above the desired threshold, and no denial message is received from the base station <b>21</b> responsive to the request to establish the wireless communications link, the wireless communications link is established, thus concluding the illustrated method (Block <b>56</b>).

0037Although the method is shown as concluding at Block <b>56</b>, it should be noted that the controller <b>26</b> may continue to cooperate with the wireless transceiver <b>24</b> for determining if the QoS level of the wireless communications link, once established, falls below the desired QoS level. If it does, then the controller <b>22</b> may attempt to re-establish the wireless communications link with the desired QoS level at the second attempt rate based thereon, as similarly described above. The same may also be done using the first access rate if the wireless communications link, once established, is terminated by the base station <b>22</b> due to an administrative closing, for example, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

0038Of course, it should be noted that in certain circumstances the reason for an unsuccessful attempt to establish a wireless communications link may not result in a denial message being received, or from a QoS problem. For example, if the base station <b>21</b> is taken offline for maintenance, etc., the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b> will receive no signals from the base station <b>21</b> at all. In such case, the controller <b>26</b> could be set to simply determine that the QoS level is below the desired threshold, in which case the second access rate is used, or the controller could default to the first access rate, whichever is most appropriate for the particular implementation. It should also be noted that the controller <b>26</b> could also switch from either of the first or second access rates to some lower minimum rate(s) if the wireless communications link is not established within a certain period of time, to provide still further battery and/or network resource usage savings.

0039Turning to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3 and 6</figref>, another embodiment of the cellular communications system <b>20</b>′ is now described. As noted above, the mobile cellular communications device <b>22</b>′ illustratively includes a user input device(s) <b>27</b>′ connected to the controller <b>26</b>′. Beginning at Block <b>60</b>, the controller <b>26</b>′ cooperates with the wireless transceiver <b>24</b>′ for attempting to establish the wireless communications link with the base station <b>22</b>, as also discussed above. If the wireless communications link cannot be established (Block <b>62</b>), for whatever reason (e.g., QoS level, denial, etc.), then the controller <b>26</b>′ continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate, at Block <b>63</b>.

0040If while the controller <b>26</b>′ is still attempting to establish the wireless communications link a user provides a request to access the base station <b>21</b> via the user input device <b>27</b>′, at Block <b>64</b>, then the controller continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link based upon a second attempt rate greater than the first attempt rate, at Block <b>65</b>. Thus, for example, if the user attempts to place a voice call, or queues up an email message for delivery, then the controller <b>26</b>′ will attempt to establish the wireless communications link more often than if the user does not otherwise need to initiate wireless communications. The illustrated method concludes upon the establishment of the wireless communications link, at Block <b>65</b>.

0041Still another embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4 and 7</figref>. More particularly, beginning a Block <b>70</b>, the controller <b>26</b>″ cooperates with the wireless transceiver <b>24</b>″ for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with the base station <b>22</b>, at Block <b>71</b>, as described above. If the wireless communications link cannot be established, at Block <b>72</b>, then the controller <b>26</b>″ continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at an attempt rate which decreases following each unsuccessful attempt, at Block <b>73</b>. Stated alternately, the controller <b>26</b>″ successively steps down the access rate after each unsuccessful attempt to establish the communications link. Otherwise, the illustrated method is concluded, at Block <b>74</b>.

0042The present invention may advantageously be implemented as a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a mobile communications device <b>22</b> to perform the steps described above. Moreover, it will also be appreciated that aspects described separately above with respect to separate embodiments for clarity of illustration may be combined in some applications. For example, the controller <b>22</b> may also increase one or both of the first and second access rates responsive to an access request from a user, as described with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, and/or successively decrease one or both of these rates after each unsuccessful attempt to establish the wireless communications link, as described with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>.

Example

0043Turning now additionally to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, additional aspects of an exemplary hand-held mobile cellular communications device <b>1000</b> (i.e., a Blackberry device) that can be used in accordance with the present invention are now described. The device <b>1000</b> illustratively includes a housing <b>1200</b>, a keyboard <b>1400</b> and an output device <b>1600</b>. The output device shown is a display <b>1600</b>, which is preferably a full graphic LCD. Other types of output devices may alternatively be utilized. A processing device <b>1800</b> is contained within the housing <b>1200</b> and is coupled between the keyboard <b>1400</b> and the display <b>1600</b>. The processing device <b>1800</b> controls the operation of the display <b>1600</b>, as well as the overall operation of the mobile device <b>1000</b>, in response to actuation of keys on the keyboard <b>1400</b> by the user.

0044The housing <b>1200</b> may be elongated vertically, or may take on other sizes and shapes (including clamshell housing structures). The keyboard may include a mode selection key, or other hardware or software for switching between text entry and telephony entry.

0045In addition to the processing device <b>1800</b>, other parts of the mobile device <b>1000</b> include a communications subsystem <b>1001</b>; a short-range communications subsystem <b>1020</b>; the keyboard <b>1400</b> and the display <b>1600</b>, along with other input/output devices <b>1060</b>, <b>1080</b>, <b>1100</b> and <b>1120</b>; as well as memory devices <b>1160</b>, <b>1180</b> and various other device subsystems <b>1201</b>. The mobile device <b>1000</b> is preferably a two-way RF communications device having voice and data communications capabilities. In addition, the mobile device <b>1000</b> preferably has the capability to communicate with other computer systems via the Internet.

0046Operating system software executed by the processing device <b>1800</b> is preferably stored in a persistent store, such as the flash memory <b>1160</b>, but may be stored in other types of memory devices, such as a read only memory (ROM) or similar storage element. In addition, system software, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store, such as the random access memory (RAM) <b>1180</b>. Communications signals received by the mobile device may also be stored in the RAM <b>1180</b>.

0047The processing device <b>1800</b>, in addition to its operating system functions, enables execution of software applications <b>1300</b>A-<b>1300</b>N on the device <b>1000</b>. A predetermined set of applications that control basic device operations, such as data and voice communications <b>1300</b>A and <b>1300</b>B, may be installed on the device <b>1000</b> during manufacture. In addition, a personal information manager (PIM) application may be installed during manufacture. The PIM is preferably capable of organizing and managing data items, such as e-mail, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. The PIM application is also preferably capable of sending and receiving data items via a wireless network <b>1401</b>. Preferably, the PIM data items are seamlessly integrated, synchronized and updated via the wireless network <b>1401</b> with the device user's corresponding data items stored or associated with a host computer system.

0048Communication functions, including data and voice communications, are performed through the communications subsystem <b>1001</b>, and possibly through the short-range communications subsystem. The communications subsystem <b>1001</b> includes a receiver <b>1500</b>, a transmitter <b>1520</b>, and one or more antennas <b>1540</b> and <b>1560</b>. In addition, the communications subsystem <b>1001</b> also includes a processing module, such as a digital signal processor (DSP) <b>1580</b>, and local oscillators (LOs) <b>1601</b>. The specific design and implementation of the communications subsystem <b>1001</b> is dependent upon the communications network in which the mobile device <b>1000</b> is intended to operate. For example, a mobile device <b>1000</b> may include a communications subsystem <b>1001</b> designed to operate with the Mobitex™, Data TAC™ or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile data communications networks, and also designed to operate with any of a variety of voice communications networks, such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, PCS, GSM, etc. Other types of data and voice networks, both separate and integrated, may also be utilized with the mobile device <b>1000</b>.

0049Network access requirements vary depending upon the type of communication system. For example, in the Mobitex and DataTAC networks, mobile devices are registered on the network using a unique personal identification number or PIN associated with each device. In GPRS networks, however, network access is associated with a subscriber or user of a device. A GPRS device therefore requires a subscriber identity module, commonly referred to as a SIM card, in order to operate on a GPRS network.

0050When required network registration or activation procedures have been completed, the mobile device <b>1000</b> may send and receive communications signals over the communication network <b>1401</b>. Signals received from the communications network <b>1401</b> by the antenna <b>1540</b> are routed to the receiver <b>1500</b>, which provides for signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel selection, etc., and may also provide analog to digital conversion. Analog-to-digital conversion of the received signal allows the DSP <b>1580</b> to perform more complex communications functions, such as demodulation and decoding. In a similar manner, signals to be transmitted to the network <b>1401</b> are processed (e.g. modulated and encoded) by the DSP <b>1580</b> and are then provided to the transmitter <b>1520</b> for digital to analog conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission to the communication network <b>1401</b> (or networks) via the antenna <b>1560</b>.

0051In addition to processing communications signals, the DSP <b>1580</b> provides for control of the receiver <b>1500</b> and the transmitter <b>1520</b>. For example, gains applied to communications signals in the receiver <b>1500</b> and transmitter <b>1520</b> may be adaptively controlled through automatic gain control algorithms implemented in the DSP <b>1580</b>.

0052In a data communications mode, a received signal, such as a text message or web page download, is processed by the communications subsystem <b>1001</b> and is input to the processing device <b>1800</b>. The received signal is then further processed by the processing device <b>1800</b> for an output to the display <b>1600</b>, or alternatively to some other auxiliary I/O device <b>1060</b>. A device user may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages, using the keyboard <b>1400</b> and/or some other auxiliary I/O device <b>1060</b>, such as a touchpad, a rocker switch, a thumb-wheel, or some other type of input device. The composed data items may then be transmitted over the communications network <b>1401</b> via the communications subsystem <b>1001</b>.

0053In a voice communications mode, overall operation of the device is substantially similar to the data communications mode, except that received signals are output to a speaker <b>1100</b>, and signals for transmission are generated by a microphone <b>1120</b>. Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, may also be implemented on the device <b>1000</b>. In addition, the display <b>1600</b> may also be utilized in voice communications mode, for example to display the identity of a calling party, the duration of a voice call, or other voice call related information.

0054The short-range communications subsystem enables communication between the mobile device <b>1000</b> and other proximate systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. For example, the short-range communications subsystem may include an infrared device and associated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth™ communications module to provide for communication with similarly-enabled systems and devices.

0055Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.